However, a Troy City Councilwoman and veteran teacher, Dejerilyn King Henderson, says it’s still happening in her community.

“I was told by the administration that the reason no white children or Caucasian children were in my classrooms was because parents made requests,” Henderson said. “If the white parents didn’t request me, they were not going to put white children in my classroom.”

Henderson sent a letter to Troy elected officials and the Department of Justice.

She wants the school system investigated.

Troy City School Superintendent Lee Hicks says the policy isn’t about race. Rather, he says it’s about parental choice.

“Parents want to feel like their students are with some of their friends,” Hicks said. “But again, this is not just for one group or another group. This is open to all parents.”

The Troy School System says the policy of letting parents request a child’s teacher has been in place several years and takes place in other systems, not just Troy.